Determined to let the world know that Italy can still produce some high-quality Gothenburg metal, Disarmonia Mundi is back after a 6-year hiatus. The Turin-based twosome is comprised of instrumentalist extraordinaire Ettore Rigotti and vocalist Claudio Ravinale. Björn Strid from Soilwork and Christian Älvestam also provide some vocal work. In this much coveted market of melodic death metal, it has always been virtually impossible to avoid...

So it turns out the metal gods do in fact listen to our prayers. Ask for a ballsy, melodic heavy/power metal album that's not overproduced and not rooted in Helloween clichés and the metalgods grant not one but two such albums in the form of the new Armored Saint as well as the album in question, Sacred Oath's Ravensong. But are the gods truly generous or just a bunch of fickle tricksters who give with one hand only to take with the other?

In case you've been living under a rock, supergroups are all the rage now, and they are popping up quicker than you can count them. Third Ion may not be as "super" in terms of fame, but this collaborative effort is still very much on my radar because members of Into Eternity and The Devin Townsend Project are on board.

Those not particularly accustomed to the drone genre may be surprised to discover the incredible amount of variation lurking within it. As a fundamentally structure-less genre, its very nature leaves the door for invention wide open, in turn leading to many different interpretations of the drone sound. This year, French newcomers Autokrator are ready to put their own spin on this principle, with some interesting, though perhaps unexpected influences.

Kataklysm is surely one of the constants in death metal: releasing an album every few years, maintaining their line-up for almost two decades and only changing on the drums, and being a guarantee for some quality music. With their latest release, Waiting For The End To Come, they let some dynamics return to the otherwise so heavy style, and that was pretty refreshing overall. Now it's time to prove that they can hold onto that path. Of Ghosts And Gods is here to please all fans of their latest stuff.

In theme as much as sound, Refugeeum is an album concerning escape and dislocation from the rather aggregate arrangement of prior Black Space Riders records, and it's an active attempt at something more specific.

After 17 years with Crematory, guitar player Matthias Hechler decided to leave the band in early 2015, to concentrate on his private life and to explore new musical horizons. The successors are confirmed now, and for the first time ever, Creamtory will play with two guitarists from now on. The band recruited two experienced guitarists: Tosse Basler, who will be handling the rhythm guitar and the clean vocals, and Rolf Munkes as the new lead guitarist. (by Abattoir)Read more ››

After dropping off the Summer Slaughter tour due to visa problems, German technical death metal band Obscura has issued a new update on the progress of an upcoming studio album. The band confirmed that the work on the follow-up to 2011's Omnivium is finished. The new album was produced by V. Santura. More details will be revealed in following weeks. (by Abattoir)Read more ››

Norwegian avantgarde/experimental metallers Shining (NOR) are extremely pleased to announce 'International Blackjazz Society European Tour' for fall 2015. This headlining (almost) one-month run will be executed through October and November, and will be supported by Australian band Caligula's Horse. All confirmed dates can be found below the official tour flyer. (by Abattoir)Read more ››

Prolific black metallers Horna will release their ninth full-length album, entitled Hengen Tulet, on September 22nd this year. The follow-up to 2013's Askel Lähempänä Saatanaa will be their second album, released on W.T.C. Productions, as well as the second to feature vocalist Spellgoth. The label promises an album rife with "foul, fetid primitivism", that hearkens back to the "filthier textures of the Corvus (Spellgoth's predecessor) years". The album features quite vibrant cover artwork, masterfully executed by Pahapasi, which can be seen below. Also,... (by Swietowit11)Read more ››

Since the cancellation of Canadian tech-death metallers Archspire, American brutal death metallers Disgorge have announced they've been dropped off the fifth round of Louisville Deathfest as well, due to financial issues. (by J. N.)Read more ››

Is independent, unsigned, and underground metal what you seek? Weary traveller of the metal world, rest a while here. Clandestine Cuts are the best demos and EPs from these bands, the heart and soul of metal music. These musicians are slaves to their passions, and their blood keeps the metal machine alive and turning. Support them with a simple listen, and discover the future. This issue features music from Neck Of The Woods, Venom Prison, Shrine Of The Serpent, Concatenatus, Criminology & Geist. (by Nefarious, BloodTears, Ilham, Abattoir, Mr. Doctor)Read more ››

It's been so long since the last time I was at Hard Rock Laager. It's, to put it bluntly, quite embarrassing. When I looked it up, it turned out that I have skipped 6 editions. It's surprisingly 2 less than I initially thought, though. The reasons have varied from Hellfests to conflicting schedules, as well as the lack of interest for any particular line-up, and laziness. In those skipped editions I only really regret missing Trail Of Tears and I didn't intend to repeat this mistake with Threshold. And being there again, it felt like a homecoming. (by Ivor)Read more ››

Getting Stoked: 70000 Tons Of Metal 2016 - Ready For Round Six I love the smell of "Napalm In The Morning" … well, not really, but there I was, preparing to write this 'Getting Stoked' article, and the organizers of 70000 Tons Of Metal made their first thrash metal band announcement for next year's cruise - Sodom. :banger: (by D.T. Metal)Read more ››

So 2015 starts and we're still talking about September 2014 stuff? Only if it's worth it. And trust me, this IS worth it by any means. Let me tell you about From The Dead Villages' Darkness by Sivyj Yar. For those of you capable of reading Cyrillic, Сивый Яр will look a lot more comfortable to pronounce. This is a one-man project from Russia with the mastermind Vladimir doing all instruments plus vocals. The music is pagan black metal, yet with many atmospheric elements and less typical pagan instruments like flutes during the harsher parts.
(by Windrider)Read more ››